Professor Eduardo Allgayer

Getting Time To Think

Killing Time - Buying Time - Thinking On Your Feet

Having a conversation can be a very difficult experience especially when English

isn’t your first language. Often you will be asked questions that will put you on the spot.
You will be forced to think about things that you haven’t given much thought or have never
thought about. In these circumstances, waiting or delaying your answer is the most
obvious option. Use one, two, three, or more of these devices below to give yourself extra
time to think about your answer. This method is used by almost every native speaker at
almost all times. Even in class when you ask your teacher a question, he/she will wait to
think of the best form to explain something to you or how to explain it to you in a clear
way. They may also need time to think about what the answer really is. This is a very
common English practice. When these devices are used properly it tells the person you are
speaking to, that you understood the question and you are trying to answer it and it also lets
them know that you’re interested in the conversation.

Imagine if you were having a conversation with someone and you asked them a
question and they didn’t answer you for a minute. Try it… ask someone a question and get
them to wait for a minute before answering. It is a very “awkward” time. This is the same
in a conversation. When someone asks a question and you have to think about the answer,
if you say nothing while you think it makes the questioner uncomfortable. They don’t
know whether you understand the question, are thinking about the question or even care
about what they said or asked.

Perhaps the easiest method is to ask them to repeat the question even though you
understood it. This will give you time to think about what you are going to say while the
speaker tries to make the question more clear. You can also rephrase the question putting
your point of view to help you come to a decision. The following are more example of
how to “ask” for time.

Well… The thing is… Sort of

Um… I see what you mean, … but Right then
Actually That sort of thing Let’s say
You know/see It’s like this, you see.. Let’s see (now)
I see What I’m trying to say is… Frankly
I mean/You mean (Now) Where should I start In fact,…
(Now) Let me think/see I’ll have to think about that/it Hang on…
To be honest/ frank (with you)… What I would say is … How shall I put
it…
Let’s put it this way… The best way I can answer that is.. I’ll tell you
Give me a sec/second/moment/minute Good question!!! Wow!!!
I haven’t given that much thought It’s funny you mention/ask that…
I was just thinking about it/that
Exercises:

1. What did you do the night you under graduated?

2. Where do you want to go in your next holiday?
3. What would you do if you won $100.00?
4. What is the first thing you would buy if you won a million dollars?
5. What was the most exciting/nervous/exhausting experience you’ve ever had?
6. Who is your best friend in the world?
7. If your best friend in the world was about to be hit by a car and you could stop him form
being killed but would probably be killed trying to save him/her, would you do it?
8. What do you love most about your job?
9. What did you do last winter?
10. What was your most favorite gift last Christmas?
11. Which birthday of yours was the most memorable (do you remember most)?
12. How old were you when you got into your first job?
13. Have you ever had a holiday you didn’t enjoy?
14. If you knew you were going to die next week, what’s the first thing you would do?
15. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now and it would be paid for, where
would you go?
16. Do you agree with abortions?
17. What came first, the chicken or the egg?
18. What’s your favorite food?
19. What was your first impression of American people?
20. What’s the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
21. What are you going to do this weekend?
22. Is money more important than happiness?
23. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one person with you,
who would you want to be with you?
24. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have three things, what would
they be?
25. If you could be anyone else in the world but still be yourself (you could be exactly like
them, as famous/as good) ) who would you want to be?
26. What’s your most favorite movie?
27. Why are you studying English?
28. If you found a magic lamp and a Genie appeared when you rubbed it and said you
could have three wishes, what would they be?
29. If your house was on fire and your family was all outside safe and you could make one
more trip inside safely to save one thing, what would you save?